Falansai

I’ve been intrigued by this spot for a while for its claim to meld Vietnamese and Mexican cuisines, and overall it’s a winning combination. The space is nice and chill and service was friendly. And while some dishes were better than others, I was impressed with the dishes and the synergies between the two cuisines. The result was flavor combinations that were new but made a lot of sense and just popped. Standouts included a tostada with fresh seafood that you topped with fish sauce and Birds Eye chile and a congee with corn and duck confit. If I had one issue, it would be our decision to go with the tasting menu. We were taken in by the fact that it was comprised of dishes not on the regular menu and we might get to sample more. But in retrospect, we hadn’t tried the regular menu so anything would’ve been new to us, and the dishes on the tasting menu are normal size so you don’t really get to try more. And compared to the regular menu it’s not a great value. The one nice thing though was the wine pairing, which they do offer in both 3 and 5 glass options. We went with the 3 and found the selections to be well matched and good value. So all in all, a conditional 5 stars but I do look forward to returning and trying the regular menu - especially the duck neck which sounds amazing.

Food is amazing. I dream about the Nam Dua (mushrooms, greens, noodles). The mackarel spicy green curry is a close second. And if you like duck, the duck neck is so succulent and innovative as a dish. Last dish below is the beef skewers The only downside is they were out of everything when we were there - the black bass, the orange wine we wanted a second glass of, the hemp kombucha and one other item. It was pretty awkward

Holy smokes! What an incredible meal. Excellent service. Friendly staff. Delicious food. Vibes music. My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate his late fathers birthday. Ironically there were multiple menu items with “dad” in the name. That warmed my heart. Orange wine was delicious. The egg rolls were the best I’ve ever eaten. The curry bun was packed full of flavor and we left with a ginger sauce to take home. Will absolutely be back again soon.

Easiest 5-star rating I’ve given in awhile. Falansai is an incredible modern vietnamese/south east asian restaurant that really pushes the boundaries of what one would consider vietnamese cuisine, in the best way possible. To get the full experience, go with a group and order the dac biet feast. Its an incredible deal (about $80pp for 5-6 courses) and comes as an absolute unit of a tasting menu. Highlights were a wonderfully balanced spicy coconut curry accompanying a perfectly fried black bass, and a grilled vietnamese pork chop that was pretty life-changing. The spring roll vermicelli salad was no chump either. Everything was brought up a notch or two by the excellent chili fish sauces and pickles that just kept coming. Solid selection of natural wines as well, and the only regret is that i didnt get to try the cocktails which looked good. Cool patio in the back for warm summer nights.

Great flavors, great ambiance, great service! I love the intense flavors of the food but the dishes may taste better when consumed with alcohol. I ordered from the a la carte menu. Green curry: oh so flavorful! Love the evocation of a lotus 🪷 pond in the representation. Included rice is cooked perfectly ( is this such a tall order for the majority of supposedly good restaurants?!) Refreshing pickles ordered separately. Lamb skewers were magnificent! Confit duck necks are intensely flavorful and the meat is truly tender fall-off-the-bone (As advertized!). Need more zesty acid or accompanying alcoholic drink to unlock full potential. Coconut pudding dessert with shaved hibiscus ice and jackfruit, great, refreshing but not too illuminating.